I used to think impatience was a leadership strength.
It helped me win cases as a federal trial attorney.
It also left a trail of bruised and burned-out people in my wake.
✨ “If patience wasn’t so easily tested, then it would hardly be a virtue.” Amor Towles
🧨 That lesson hit hard when I lost everything and went to prison.
The realization comes on day one that “You ain’t controlling nothing.”
For 5½ years, I was forced to be patient, but I also learned its value.
⚡ Now, as an executive coach, I help leaders learn the value of patience because patience isn’t passive. It’s one of the most active disciplines a leader can practice.
Leaders have their patience tested daily: waiting for a new initiative to take hold, navigating team dynamics, or guiding someone through their learning curve.
🧨 It’s easy to react. It’s harder to pause, reflect, and respond with clarity.
But that’s where trust is built and resilience grows.
The ways leaders can strengthen patience:
☑️ 1. Practice the pause: Count to ten before responding under pressure.
☑️ 2. Shift perspective: Ask, “What am I missing?” to turn frustration into curiosity.
☑️ 3. Set realistic expectations: Progress is rarely linear—allow space for setbacks.
☑️ 4. Celebrate small wins: Recognize incremental progress, not just big results.
Yet patience has limits. Overused, it becomes avoidance, indecision, or passivity.
The times when a leader should not be patient are:
⚡ 1. When values are compromised—integrity demands action.
⚡ 2. When safety is at risk—physical or psychological safety can’t wait.
⚡ 3. When clarity is missing—confusion thrives in delay.
⚡ 4. When performance issues persist—endless grace erodes accountability.
⚡ 5. When opportunity is fleeting—momentum waits for no one.
🎖️ Effective leadership lives in the balance— knowing when patience builds strength and when urgency drives progress.
I could be wrong… but I’m not.
❓ How do you balance patience and urgency when the pressure is on?